Fireworks explode over Vancouver's English Bay during the 2013 Celebration of Light. Vancouver has maintained its position as third-most livable city, as determined by The Economist magazine, for a second year. Before 2011, it had the top-spot in the magazine's annual ranking. Photo Credit: CBC

Canada has 3 of the world’s top 5 most liveable cities

According to an annual survey by the prestigious “Economist” magazine Intelligence Unit, the west coast port city of Vancouver ranks third in the world, out of 140 cities in the survey.

Toronto, Ontario, which is Canada’ biggest city, ranks 4th in the world followed by the prairie city of Calgary, Alberta, which actually tied for fifth spot with Adelaide Australia

For the third year in a row, Melbourne, Australia, took top spot, edging out Vienna Austria in second, and Vancouver which had occupied top spot for several years

The Economist Intelligence Unit, bases its scores on some 30 criteria on a scale from zero to 100. These include factors such as the quality of public healthcare or the threat of military conflict.

These 30 values are then combined to create scores in five areas: stability, infrastructure, education, health care, and culture and environment. A weighted average of those five numbers gives each city its final score.

While Canadian cities fared well, they are not without their problems for people living there. This includes a high cost of housing, and long frustrating hours spent in traffic jams.

Rental costs in Toronto or Vancouver proper average approximately C$1,600 per month, and that’s only because a number of very small apartments (600-800 sq ft) are coming onto the market with slightly lowered rental charges.

Vancouver got top marks for culture and the environment, and its “greenest city” goals. It slipped a bit when it comes to infrastructure. It also lost marks for petty crime rates, availability of quality housing and congested road networks. Toronto received a “Tolerable” rating (as opposed to Acceptable) for roads, public transit and housing while Calgary waned in temperature ratings

London and New York have been ranked as numbers 55 and 56 respectively, mainly because of a perceived risk of terrorism, according to the report, while the ongoing crisis in Syria was the main reason for Damascus sinking to last place, tied with Karachi, Pakistan

EIU ranking –liveability index- 100 is ideal

1- Melbourne (Aus) = 97.5

2- Vienna (A) = 97.4

3- Vancouver (Cdn)= 97.3

4- Toronto (Cdn) = 97.2

5- Calgary (Cdn) = 96.6

(5) Adelaide (Aus) = 96.6

7- Sydney (Aus) = 96.1

8- Helsinki (Fin) = 96.0

9- Perth (Aus) = 95.9

10- Auckland (NZ) = 95.7

Other cities rankings include Paris in 16th, Berlin in 21st, Sao Paulo Brazil came in at 92, Mumbai India at 116, and Damascus Syria, and Karachi, Pakistan, tied for last spot at 140.

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15 comments on “Canada has 3 of the world’s top 5 most liveable cities”

I appreciate your effort. Perth is such a nice place for visit. It is a most famous holidays destinations around the world. I have been there after my tours of new york city sightseeing a few months ago with my few family members to enjoy incredible beauty of this amazing place. It is an ideal place for all kind of visitors.

lived both Toronto and Calgary. What people new to Canada need to know, and trust me seen this with my own eyes as have others, the system is set up as such that there is no free health care, GP’s are mainly drug pushers, winter time ice sheets fall from the sky, ttc doesnt work, mass amounts of accidents, hospitals can no longer deal with the numbers and dont care, your adding money back to a corrupt system, super unfriendly, Toronto two thousand people on the subway and no one talks to each other. Most things dont actually work because the infrastructure cant handle the mass influx of new unskilled people from around the world. The city going through a phase of grabbing as much money as possible and hoping for the best. If that includes stealing wallets so be it. People get angry things dont work, you make a scene and are escorted away so mo one can see. Although multi cultural somewhat of a facade. Italians have little italy, chinese have chinatown, Portuguese have little portugal, little ukraine, little actual integration, a lot refuse to speak english. Ask any torontonian what Toronto really like and doesnt work. A lot of what is shown for for the public to see, the underbelly you might think otherwise. Go to any small pharmacist downtown they will tell you the state of affairs Toronto, gang war fare, human trafficking. Looks all glitzy, but there has been epidemic stealing all over past five years within the city. High corrupt mobile companies who charge horrific unproven bills. Largest western europe to the point govt had to show public statement. Where do you think all the money has come from to build the new buildings. Everyone knows just got to keep your mouth shut. Review this list again two years when toronto so zero soul left. There is an underlying racial tension, deaths just not publicized, political correct answer to everything every true canadian getting sick of. People selling thing on every corner and they wont let you passed and make you feel guilty for doing so. One pharmacist told me 90% of downtown takes sedation drugs daily because everyone is stealing, robbing, mugging, no job security. Be careful of Tim Hortons donuts, they only have a life of four hours before you get really sick so ask. new condo’s put up to quickly. my last condo, doors did not fit, floor not even, as long as they get the money dont care. bars dont put real alcohol, almost everything watered down or different brand without stating. What ever you do dont get sick here, please do not get sick here. Lastly, our mayor does drugs and calls fake meeting to declare fake bomb threats. Total zoo. if you chose to live canada go to calgary or vancouver. Friendlier, more money, close to the pacific. Toronto has opened the doors to everyone with an effort to boost population and work. What has transpired if you check the right box you might get a job but due to political correctness people are in jobs they have no business being there, no idea what they are doing so nothing working. Know a lot of Europeans thinking of going home, if they can make the journey one piece. Toronto the good, used to be not now.

I guess I have to move to Canada asap 🙂
And I also would take snow in exchange for comfortable living as Jessie said, because you can have snow, for example snow as in Siberia, ha ha, and live let’s say not so good 🙂

I was only wondering how much does the accomodation costs related to the salaries? I’ve found an agregator of ads for renting that has also jobs vertical in order to find out some info, but if you have some inside info about living there, it will be very useful for me.

Hi Rajendra,
I’m a Torontonian, but lived for quite a while in Bangalore India. My personal experience is that India is a fun place to live – well at least Bangalore – with great weather, food and interesting people. (Though crazy traffic.)

Maybe Mumbai doesn’t score so well, but I am sure that places like Bangalore do quite well. Sitting watching outdoor movies or cricket or simply having an outdoor meal in the warm evenings and then going back home by auto-rickshaw is a darn nice experience that can’t be touched.